Windows 7 vs. IE ActiveX error – “modules have not been properly installed”
We have encountered two instances where 3rd party web applications used
on campus that employ Internet Explorer 8 ActiveX modules have problems
running in Windows 7. The situation described below is with Windows 7
Professional, with the default Security Center settings.
The problem appears with error messages from the application that
various modules have not been properly installed, or it simply hangs.
In both cases, the vendor states the in order for ActiveX to update
properly, IE has to be run “As an Administrator”. This does not mean
simply that you have to be logged on to the computer with an account
with admin privileges. That by itself is not enough. You have to start
IE by Shift-Right-clicking on its icon, and then select Run as
Administrator from the drop-dwon menu. If you are logged on with an
admin account, you will have to allow IE to run in the subsequent
Security Center dialog. If you are logged on with a non-admin account,
you will have to provide admin credentials at this point.
Probably this can be worked around by downgrading the Security Center
settings, but of course there are trade-offs.
The two instances where I’ve seen this are:
1. BU Works, where they use HP Quality Center software to run their
integration testing modules;
2. Media Group (985 Comm) where they use a product from Crestron to
remotely monitor multi-media devices they’ve installed in classrooms.